My husband and I purchased our current home about five years ago. Though the house isn’t exceptionally old (it was built in the 1980s), it was built of builder-grade materials and the previous owners didn’t do a good job maintaining it. Though we’ve done a lot of work on the house (new roof, new electrical panel, new carpet, new AC unit, … [Read more...] about Should I Renovate My Home or Buy a New One?
Managing Finances
10 Frugal Ways to Make Valentine’s Day Special
Valentine’s Day is a commercialized holiday in the U.S. It has a rich history that begins with Christian martyrs and includes many folk traditions and legends. In the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer associated Valentine's Day with romantic love (source). Since this time, individuals have written love letters and exchanged tokens of their … [Read more...] about 10 Frugal Ways to Make Valentine’s Day Special
How to Use Reviews When Purchasing a Product or Service
When I need to purchase something new or hire someone to come make a repair in my home, I really appreciate being able to read reviews about the product or service. I often use reviews to weed out inferior options and to compare similar ones. Unfortunately, reviews have become somewhat of a minefield. It has become increasingly … [Read more...] about How to Use Reviews When Purchasing a Product or Service
How Budgeting Reveals More About Your Heart Than Your Wallet
My husband and I have really pared down our budget in recent months. Since we got married, our goal has been to live completely free of debt (though we are comfortable having a mortgage). Thus far this has remained beyond our reach. We did pretty well during the early years of our marriage. At that time, we had two incomes and no … [Read more...] about How Budgeting Reveals More About Your Heart Than Your Wallet
10 Alternatives to Parties for Celebrating Kids’ Birthdays
When my oldest child was about to have her first birthday, my husband and I decided that we were going to take a simple approach to celebrating birthdays. Now that a few years have passed and we have three kids, we’re so glad we’ve taken this approach! Though we believe that forgoing extravagant parties is right for our family, it’s … [Read more...] about 10 Alternatives to Parties for Celebrating Kids’ Birthdays
26 White Elephant Gifts from Around the House
Pretty much every year of my adult life I’ve attended at least one holiday gathering where there was a white elephant gift exchange. Though the specific details vary, most of these have involved the exchange of silly, strange, or humorous gifts. I often scramble around the house a day or two before a white elephant gift exchange in an … [Read more...] about 26 White Elephant Gifts from Around the House
Ways to Save Money this Fall
Though I’ve lived here for over a decade, I’m still amazed at how hot the summers get in Texas. If you try to beat this heat using air conditioning, then high electricity bills are inevitable. Thankfully, summer has transitioned to fall, which means relief is on the way. We did our best to save money this summer despite the heat. Now … [Read more...] about Ways to Save Money this Fall
Find Deals on Everyday Items During Back-to-School Sales
Store shelves are overflowing with paper, pencils, and notebooks. The aisles are teeming with parents who are trying to fulfill long lists of school supplies. This sounds like a scene I’d like to avoid! I won’t avoid it entirely, though. I have minimal need for school supplies because my kids are young and we homeschool the only one who … [Read more...] about Find Deals on Everyday Items During Back-to-School Sales
